Qualitative Research Methods in Criminolgy

This essay will evaluate the use of in-depth interviews, either one to one or via focus groups as a form of criminological research. The essay will assess how appropriate the chosen methodology can be, issues regarding validity, sampling and research ethics. This essay will also emphasize how these forms of qualitative research can be useful in the field of criminology.

First of all this essay will describe the background and the emergence of qualitative research methods then it will outline some of the general ethics around criminological research. As Meuser and Oschper (2002) define, the labelling approach and critical criminology supported the introduction of qualitative methods in criminological and social research fields. The new approach in criminological research on deviant subcultures was directed by the approach of "Verstehen” or understanding. Researchers focused on exploring, analysing and understanding the abnormal behaviour and delinquent subcultures. The information given during in-depth interviews are in the context of everyday life. The knowledge gained by qualitative methods about the criminal activities can be subjective to the participants` own experiences, but very factual. The role of the researcher is not to label or judge the offenders and their delinquent behaviour, but to gain knowledge and better understanding of the offenders` views, attitudes and behaviour by the interaction with their group. Qualitative research methods can be linked to evaluating race, gender and/or social inequalities. Qualitative research methods linked to the studies of race, gender, etc. can give a greater understanding of delinquency and social inequalities (Meuser and Oschper, 2002).

As Finch and Fafinski (2012) describe, befo...

... middle of paper ...

...h, E. and Fafinski, S. (2012) Criminology skills. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Meuser, M. and Oschper, G. (2002) Introduction: Qualitative Research in Criminology. [26 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 3(1), Art. 12 Available at: http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/876/1906#gcit [Accessed: 15 Apr 2014].

Noaks, L. and Wincup, E. (2004) Criminological research. London: SAGE.

Tewksbury, R. (2009) Qualitative versus Quantitative Methods: Understanding Why Qualitative Methods are Superior for Criminology and Criminal Justice. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Criminology, 1 (1), 38-58.

Tewksbury, R., Dabney, D. A. and Copes, H. (2010) The prominence of qualitative research in criminology and criminal justice scholarship. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 21 (4), 391-411.